To George Washington from Robert Stewart, 6 May 1761

From Robert Stewart

[c.6 May 1761]

My Dear Sir

Yesterday about noon we arriv’d at this place where the loss of some Waggon Horses, want of Provisions for the Waggoners, and Forrage for the Horses oblig’d me to remain last night, I this morning sent to Reconnoitre Cedar Creek which is found immensely swell’d by the heavy Rains and deem’d impassable so that we are likely to remain here at least for this Day.1

I flatter myself that the Success of your excursion yesterday was such as to make up in some measure for the disagreeable Ride you must have had, I need not tell you how happy a Line from you after the Election is over2 would make me, and when you get to Mount Vernon I beg you’ll be so good as to offer my Respectfull Complemts in the warmest and most obliging Terms to Your Lady and my hearty Thank for her highly valued present—May Heaven Bless You with everything you desire or wish & be assur’d that I am and ever shall remain with
the most unalterable Esteem & Supreme Regard My Dear Colonel Your Most Affecte & most Obliged hble Servt

Robert Stewart

ALS, DLC:GW.

The contents of this letter indicate that GW and Stewart had just parted before Stewart marched from Winchester with some of the Virginia Regiment, probably two or three days before writing this letter (see note 1). William Byrd wrote Gov. Francis Fauquier on 29 May reporting that the troops from Winchester had arrived on 27 May after thirty days en route, “occation’d by their being lock’d in by the Waters” (Reese, Fauquier description begins George Reese, ed. The Official Papers of Francis Fauquier, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 1758–1768. 3 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1980–83. description ends , 2:532–33); Stewart wrote GW on 10 June that they were on the road for twenty-three days. If Stewart’s count is right, he wrote this letter on 6 or 7 May. GW was in Winchester in May before the burgess election on 18 May (see GW to Van Swearingen, 15 May 1761, n.4).

1. Stewart and his troops were to join the rest of the Virginia Regiment on Virginia’s southwest frontier. The main Valley road south from Winchester crossed Cedar Creek about fifteen miles from the town. See source note.

More between these correspondents

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